Constance Dykes obituary

Constance Elizabeth Dykes passed away peacefully on November 16, 2024, after a two-and-a-half year battle with lung cancer. Connie was born December 13, 1945, in New Hampton, Iowa. She was the youngest of five children of Herman J. and Margaret B. (Boyle) Sweeney. The family was raised on a farm outside of Alma, Iowa and Connie continued to love farming all her life. Connie graduated from St. Williams high school in 1963 and went on to attend and graduate from Mason City Business College. She married the love of her life, Virgil Leo Dykes, on June 27, 1964. She was the proud mother of six boys, Lorn, Jeff, Mark, Steve, Virgil Jr., and Roger. Virgil and Connie made a home and raised their boys on a farm outside of Lake City, Minn. Connie worked as a Minnesota Farm Advocate for nearly 40 years. She loved being able to work with and help farmers. When Connie wasn’t working or farming, she loved to garden, raise beautiful flowers, play games with her grandchildren, go for walks with her husband, and cook. Connie will be deeply missed. Connie is preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Margaret Sweeney and sister Margaret Ann Sweeney. Connie is survived by her loving husband of 60 years Virgil; sisters Enid Wysocki, Yvonne McKeon and brother Patrick Sweeney; her sons Lorn (Sandra) Dykes of Almond, Wis., Jeff (Rosaland) Dykes of Rochester, Minn., Mark (Danelle) Dykes of Mazeppa, Minn., Steve (Wendy) Dykes of Plainview, Minn., Virgil (Melissa) Dykes of Goodhue, Minn., and Roger Dykes of Lake City; as well as her 15 grandchildren and five great grandchildren, with two more great grandchildren on the way. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday November 23, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lake City, Minn.